ILLINOIS STATE NEWS

(SPRINGFIELD) Governor Bruce Rauner has acted on two pieces of legislation that passed through the General Assembly earlier this year. On Sunday, the Governor vetoed a bill that would expand benefits and collective bargaining rights for city paramedics and emergency medical technicians. He said the plan would be an “unfunded state mandate” and cut flexibility that cities and municipalities have to determine employment conditions. Yesterday, the Governor signed into law a plan that gives families of extremely ill children more flexibility in health care. This affects children considered “medically fragile and technology dependent” making their highly technical care, which is covered by Medicaid, is exempt from managed-care organizations. The plan must receive approval from the federal government before taking effect.

(SPRINGFIELD) Illinois State Fair vendors say attendance and sales declined at the 2018 event compared to last year in 2017. The State Journal-Register reports that vendors report the mostly favorable weather did not help boost sales for the State Fair, which has seen a downward trend over the past decade. Fair officials say the weekday crowds were slow due to the statewide school year beginning last week, although the weekend attendance was good. It will likely be weeks before the official numbers are released. The state’s focus now shifts to the Du Quoin State Fair, with its 11-day/night run this Friday thru Labor Day.

(SPRINGFIELD) Danville-native, Dick Van Dyke, is the state’s top vote getter as the “Top Actor” in Illinois history, as chosen by voters in the statewide Illinois Top 200 project. Coming in at number two was Chicago’s Bill Murray, then Gene Hackman of Danville, Harrison Ford of Chicago, and Gary Sinise of Blue Island. Rounding out the top ten was Charlton Heston of the Chicago suburbs, Marlon Brando of Chicago, John Belushi of Chicago, Melissa McCarthy of rural Plainfield, and John Malkovich of Benton. The Top 200 project lets Illinoisans vote every two weeks on the most inspiring leaders in twenty different categories all to be recognized during the state’s 200th birthday coming up on December 3rd. Voting in the next category, “Top Entertainers,” is underway statewide by going online at www.IllinoisTop200.com.